Corset



2 SheetsSheet 1. L. J. JAMES.

CORSET.

(No Model.)

No. 405,037. Patented June 11, 1889.

INVENTOR:

A NORA/E78.

N. PETERS, mmL-ma n m Washinglnn. n. c.

2 SheetsSheet 2. L. J. JAMES. CORSET.

(No Model.)

No. 405.037. Patent-ed June 11, 1889-.

WITNESSES: flhf/Z N. PETERS, PMo'Uflsographer, Washing! D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

LUCY J. JAMES, OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA.

CORSET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 405,037, dated June 11,1889.

Application filed February 5, 1889. Serial No. 298,717. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUCY J. JAMES, of P0- mona, in the county of LosAngeles and State of California, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Corsets, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in corsets, and has for itsobject to provide a corset having combined therewith a shoulderbrace,skirt-supporter, and breast-forms; and a further object of the inventionis to provide a corset which may be worn as an ordinary corset, or askeleton corset for invalids use, and wherein all or any of theattachments may be dispensed with or employed, as desired, and wherein,also, the attachments may be conveniently and expeditiously applied ordetached.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as Will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claims.

Reference is to be had to ,the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar figures of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the corset having all the attachmentsapplied. illustrates the skeleton corset, produced by removing the sidesof the corset illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view of abreastform and shoulder-strap.

In carrying out the invention the corset proper consists of twoback-stays 10 and 11, spaced a slight distance and united by transversetapes 12, which tapes are securely fastened to the stays. The sidepieces 13 and 14, adapted for attachment to the outer longitudinal edgesof the stays, may be made in any approved manner, and the said sidepieces are adapted to be united in front, as is usual in all corsets, bywell-known forms of clasp.

In the contiguous edges of the side pieces and back-stays a series ofeyelets are produced, and the said edges are united by a string 15,laced through the said eyelets and tied at the bottom in abow-knot, asillustrated in Fig. 1.

In the upper edge of the back-stays, which is preferably finished upon abias, the downward inclination being in direction of the Fig. 2

sides of the corset, a series of eyelets 16 are introduced, and upon theouter surface of said stays, below the center, a hook-spring 17 issecured, adapted for attachment to the waistband of a skirt, bustle, &c.Elastic tapes 20 are firmly attached to the outer longitudinal edge ofthe back-stays, the outer ends of which tapes 20 are permanently securedto waistband-sections 20, one of said sections being provided with abuckle or equivalent fastening device. Near the upper end of theback-stays, at the outer side, a short elastic tape 21 is fastened,carrying a buckle or similar device. The shoulder-straps consist of acurved strip 22, of suitable fabric, preferably Widerat one end than atthe other, and provided with a pad 23 nearthe narrower end upon thatportion of the upper edge adapted for contact with the armpit of thewearer. In the wider end, which is out upon the same bias as the upperextremity of the back-stays, a series of eyelets 24 are produced, and atape 25, preferably elastic, is secured to the narrower end, as bestshown in Fig. 2.

In order to provide a shoulder-brace for the corsets, the biasextremities of the shoulderstraps and back-stays are brought togetherand united by lacing a cord 26 through the eyelets in the opposingedges, and the narrow end of the shoulder-straps is then carried to therear and the attached tape passed through the buckle of the outerback-stay tape 21, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the front edge of the shoulder-straps, at the lower front or breastcurve a, a series of longitudinally arranged eyelets 26 are secured, andat this point the breast forms or pads 27 are attached.

The breast forms or pads may be constructed of any desired material andin any approved manner, being, however, concave-convex in cross-section.Theedge of the breast forms or pads adapted to approach the convexeyeleted edge a of the shoulderstraps is provided with a concave recessor cut 28 and eyelets 29, adjacent to said concave edge, as best shownin Fig. 3. The pads are attached to the shoulder-straps by lacing a cord30 through the eyelets 26 and 29.

The inner edge of one breast form or pad is provided with eyes 31, andto the contiguous edge of the other form elastic tapes 32 are secured,carrying a hook 33, adapted for e11- gagemeut with the said eyes 31, asillustrated in Fig. 1. \Vhen a corset is to be worn by a person unableto wear the ordinary form of corset, either by reason of weakness,sickness, or because they have been unaccustomed to the restraint ofsuch a garment, the sides are unlaced from the back-stays, and thebreastforms may either be removed or permitted to remain, as desired.This style of corset, which Idenominate a skeleton form, is illustratedin Fig. 2. In this form of corset it will be observed that the back isbraced, and likewise the shoulders, and that the body at the waist isgirdled by the waistband, the sides and upper portion of the body beingleft free and unincumbered. hen the full combination is used, or thebody of the corset alone is worn, the waistband is carried forwardoutside of the body, as shown in Fig. 1. In every instance theskirt-supporter remains attached to the back-stays for use, if desired.Bylaeing the breast-forms to the shoulder-straps and uniting them infront, as shown, they automatically adjust themselves to the figure andremain in proper position even when a loose outer garment is worn, suchas a wrapper.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. A corset comprising the back-stays and 11.,connected together, the shoulderstraps 22, provided with the elastictape at one end and detachably secured to the back.- stays, the breastforms or pads detachably secured to the shoulder-straps, and the waistband 20, provided with elastic tapes 20, secured to the back-stays,substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The herein-described corset, consisting of the back-stays 10 and 11,connected together, the side pieces 13 and let, detachably secured tothe back-stays, the shoulder-straps 22, detachably secured to the upperends of the said stays, the detachably-connected breast forms or pads27, detachably secured to the shoulder-straps, and the waistband 20,secured to the back-stays, as specified.

LUCY J. JAMES.

Vituesses:

JAMES FULTON, Conn BUJA.

